Research Grant Program

The Research Grant Program for the Faya Palaeolandscape World Heritage Property is a competitive international funding initiative led by the Government of Sharjah and administered by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority. Coordinated with the Faya World Heritage Property Scientific Committee, the program is structured to support a three-year cycle of archaeological and scientific research focused on the Faya Palaeolandscape, located in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. With a total budget of AED 2,000,000 distributed from 2026 through 2028, the program is intended to generate new scientific knowledge that reinforces the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of this UNESCO-inscribed cultural landscape. The grant program encompasses three distinct tracks: one Long-Term Research Grant, six Short-Term Research Grants, and three Mentoring Fellowship Grants for Emirati youth. The Long-Term Research Grant supports an extensive three-year research initiative with a maximum total award of AED 900,000 (AED 300,000 per year), targeting large-scale reconstructions of prehistoric human settlement patterns and environmental conditions in the Faya region. It is expected to produce peer-reviewed publications, regional datasets, and include a built-in plan for training and mentoring locally based archaeologists and Emirati researchers. The Short-Term Research Grants are one-year awards of up to AED 100,000 each, with two awarded annually across the three program years, totaling six grants and AED 600,000 in total funding. These projects are intended to address targeted fieldwork, collections-based research, digital heritage modeling using GIS or immersive technologies, or site conservation and risk mapping. Researchers are encouraged to focus on tangible, publishable outcomes that expand scientific understanding of the Faya region's prehistory. The Mentoring Fellowship Grants, awarded in partnership with the University of Tübingen, are structured to provide research exposure and training to early-career Emirati researchers. Each of the three fellowships offers AED 166,666 over a single year and includes both fieldwork and mentorship components. All funded research under this program must be original, fully independent, and not a continuation or extension of existing international research projects. Research outcomes must be attributed exclusively to the Faya Palaeolandscape Grant Program. Applicants may be individuals or institutions of any nationality but must demonstrate a PhD-level background, a strong track record of peer-reviewed scholarship, and relevant experience in archaeology, palaeoenvironments, or digital heritage. A formal institutional affiliation is required. Applications must be submitted in English and include a motivation letter, a detailed proposal (maximum 10 pages), a funding request and budget plan, a timeline, and the applicant's CV. Confirmation of institutional affiliation must also be provided. Proposals are evaluated on originality, feasibility, and potential impact, with preference given to projects involving collaboration with local specialists and institutions in the UAE. The application deadline for all grant types is March 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Gulf Standard Time. Applications must be submitted via the designated online form. There are no matching or cost-sharing requirements. Infrastructure and fieldwork logistics will be supported by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, allowing researchers to direct funds toward analysis, publication, and technical deliverables. For further inquiries, applicants may contact the Sharjah Archaeology Authority at [email protected] or call 00971-65028024.

Align proposal with the Faya Palaeolandscape research goals; avoid duplication with prior funded work.